Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 14, 1990 TAG: 9004140355
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DEBORAH EVANS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Thousands of fitness buffs were left without places to exercise when the LivingWells suddenly closed and filed for bankruptcy last year. The owners of the new clubs say they hope to attract those former LivingWell members.
Gold's Gym, a franchise owned by Dean Huffman, will have its grand opening today near Tanglewood Mall.
The grand opening for New Fitness, an independent, family-operated business owned by Robert Beals, will be April 21 at Crossroads Mall.
Michael Wright, a spokesman with the Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs, said both clubs have met the state's bonding requirements.
Huffman, who recently moved to Roanoke from California to buy the Tanglewood LivingWell site, said his is one of about 420 Gold's Gyms in the United States and overseas.
Huffman said he used the Roanoke LivingWells while here visiting his parents. His new franchise is one of three Gold's Gyms in Virginia.
The Gold's Gym chain provides advertising and promotions for its franchises, which must be licensed to use its name. The license is revoked if a franchise doesn't meet standards, Huffman said.
In addition to the usual fitness club amenities, the Gold's Gym franchise offers three trainers, a retail counter and body building seminars. Maximum memberships will be limited to one year, Huffman said.
Beals said the grand opening of New Fitness will feature an appearance by Lou Ferrigno of the television show, "The Incredible Hulk." New Fitness, which offers month-to-month memberships, is advertising discounts for former LivingWell members.
Wright said that while the Department of Consumer Affairs is still trying to sort out how much money former LivingWell members may be entitled to, using the discounts won't jeopardize their refunds.
The New Fitness club should be able to accommodate up to 2,000 members, a number Beals said he hopes to reach within two years.
Beals, a longtime Roanoke resident, said he has been in the fitness industry since about 1982 when he began traveling the country coming up with promotions and other advertisements for fitness clubs.
"In seven or eight years, we've seen some good things and some bad things other operators have been doing. We want to bring some of the good things to Roanoke," Beals said.
New Fitness, Beals' only club, has been stocked with new equipment and refurbished, he said.
Wright said the Department of Consumer Affairs must divide $150,000 in bond money among the 60,000 to 90,000 LivingWell members affected by the sudden closings. LivingWell closed 16 spas in Virginia.
So far, 528 of the 1,600 complaints received have been processed, but complaints still are coming in and the final settlement on each will depend on the total number of complaints, Wright said.
by CNB